Introduction

PRAFO Product Range

The PRAFO Range of Orthoses

Avoiding or healing ulcers requires 100% pressure relief

Easy to apply and effective heel protection whether in bed or ambulant. These designs protect the heel and ankles from pressure that can lead to pressure sores. The PRAFO (Pressure Relief Ankle Foot) orthosis versions provide 100% pressure relief at the heel when properly applied. These products, straight out of the box, provide protection for the immobile or ambulant patient and the unique metal structure can resist the development of plantarflexion deformities that can delay rehabilitation.

There are versions for infants, children and adults. Versions that facilitate easy adjustment in multiple planes, cater for extra high loads, or are suitable for use with wound dressings. Whatever the clinical need we have it covered. You can even make a custom orthosis and build-in the essential pressure-relief components.

What's an Orthosis?

Orthotic devices are typically mechanical systems - sometimes simple and sometimes complex - that are often added to the body and are in close contact with it. An orthosis typically provides support and other benefits following injury or a disease that affects the musculo-skeletal or neuromuscular system. That includes Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy. Arthritis, Orthopaedic trauma and Diabetic Foot Disease to name but a few,

Orthoses come in a vast range of configurations and are often used to help compensate for injury or disease with the aim of restoring or enhancing a measure of quality of life.

What's the Point?

Orthoses can be custom made or off-the-shelf and in general terms have the following purpose

control the position of body segments

control movement at the joints of the body

relieve pressure or pain

The PRAFO® range.

Our key orthotic products are the PRAFO® Ankle Foot Orthosis designs which have been refined and improved since the 1990's.

The PRAFO® range is perfect for all patients with compromised mobility at risk of pressure sores at the heel. There are actually a broad set of applications of the PRAFO® - these devices are very versatile. Today there are major options for infants, paediatric, adult and bariatric patients with various levels of adjustability.

Lack of mobility tends to increase the risk of pressure sores and we all know that the heels and malleoli are vulnerable. Whether a patient is in bed or in a wheelchair, pressure sores at the heel are important to prevent and difficult to treat. These devices ensure ZERO pressure and shear at the heel - eliminating the main cause of ulceration.

Levels of adjustabilty are selected via the Standard, APU, DUAL ACTION and DDA designs. Types of Skin Interface include the original Kodel liner, pad & strap, foamed and Terry liners.

The PRAFO® range of products are competitively priced with features that mean you only pay for the benefits you need. Cheaper designs do not have the same level of mechanical stiffness as our products. Our products have a metal upright section where all other designs are plastic. This ensures that ours has a mechanical stiffness that is vital for effectiveness.

This mechanical stiffness is also important when there is a tendency for a deformity/contracture to develop - where the foot/ankle/toes become fixed in a plantarflexed position. This makes the achievement of walking at some later date very difficult. Also if the structure is not stiff enough, even movement of the patient can be enough to flex the device and place pressure on vulnerable tissue areas.

What has always been important with the PRAFO® is the ability to eliminate pressure at the heel, have sufficient mechanical stiffness to prevent contracture development, but most of all to allow the patient to be safely mobilised with the device. This allows limited ambulation as part of rehabilitation and ultimately wider-range ambulation whilst remaining protected.